Radiography control device and radiography system

Abstract

To solve a problem that achieving both privacy protection of a subject (subject person) and operability improvement of an operator is difficult.SOLUTION: A radiography control device includes: a first acquisition part that acquires an optical image related to a subject; a determination part that determines a preparation state of radiography of the subject on the basis of the optical image acquired by the first acquisition part; and a display control part that controls output of the optical image to a display device. The display control part performs control as to whether or not the optical image is output to the display device on the basis of a determination result of the determination part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for controlling radiation imaging and a radiation imaging system.

Background Art

[0002] As an imaging device used for medical image diagnosis and non-destructive inspection by radiation, a radiation imaging device using a flat panel detector (FPD) formed of a semiconductor material has become widespread. Such a radiation imaging device is used, for example, as a digital imaging device for still image imaging such as general imaging or moving image imaging such as fluoroscopy in medical image diagnosis.

[0003] Generally, in radiation imaging, a procedure is performed to align the tube ball that irradiates radiation with the subject. However, Patent Document 1 describes means for guiding the positioning of a subject suitable for imaging using a subject image acquired by a camera during radiation imaging. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that in consideration of the privacy of a patient, mask processing can be performed on a subject image for positioning during imaging and displayed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the technologies described in the above patent documents, there is room for improvement in protecting the privacy of a subject (subject to be examined) and improving the operability of an operator. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to be able to perform imaging while giving more consideration to privacy, reducing the labor of a technician (operator).

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention for solving the above problems is a radiation imaging control device, comprising: a first acquisition unit that acquires an optical image related to a subject; a determination unit that determines a preparation status of radiation imaging of the subject based on the optical image acquired by the first acquisition unit; and a display control unit that controls output of the optical image to a display device, wherein the display control unit controls whether to output the optical image to the display device based on a determination result of the determination unit.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, while taking privacy into consideration, the labor of a technician (operator) can be reduced and imaging can be performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the present embodiments are essential for the solution of the invention.

[0010] (First Embodiment) With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the configuration and operation of a radiation imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a radiation imaging system according to the first embodiment. The radiation imaging system 1 includes a control device 100 that controls radiation imaging, and a radiation detection device 130. The control device 100 controls radiation imaging using the radiation detection device 130. In FIG. 1, a radiation generator 120, an optical imaging device 140, a display unit 150 that is a display device, and an operation unit 160 are also provided. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described.

[0012] The radiation detection device 130 detects radiation irradiated from the radiation generator 120 and passing through a subject (not shown), and outputs image data corresponding to the radiation. Note that the image data can also be referred to as a medical image or a radiation image. Specifically, the radiation detection device 130 detects the radiation transmitted through the subject as electric charges corresponding to the amount of transmitted radiation. For example, the radiation detection device 130 uses a direct conversion type sensor such as a-Se that directly converts radiation into electric charges, or an indirect type sensor using a scintillator such as CsI that converts radiation into visible light and a photoelectric conversion element such as a-Si. Further, the radiation detection device 130 generates image data by performing A / D conversion on the detected electric charges, and outputs the image data to the control device 100.

[0013] The control device 100, which is a radiation imaging control device, is connected to the radiation generator 120, the radiation detection device 130, and the optical imaging device 140, for example, via a wired or wireless network or a dedicated line. The control device 100 has an application function that operates on a computer. That is, the control device 100 has one or more processors and a memory, and the processor executes a program stored in the memory to realize each functional unit described below. However, some or all of each functional unit may be realized by dedicated hardware.

[0014] Based on the inspection information received by the operation unit 160, the control device 100 controls the timing at which the radiation generator 120 generates radiation and the imaging conditions of the radiation. The radiation image acquisition unit 101 controls the timing at which the radiation detection device 130 captures image data and the timing of output, and receives and acquires the generated image data. The image processing unit 102 performs image processing on the received image data, and the image display control unit 104, which is a display device, displays the processed image on the display unit 150. A graphical user interface using the display unit 150 is provided, and instructions from the operator are received by the operation unit 160. Inspection information is selected based on the received input, and the inspection information management unit 107 manages the information. Note that the inspection information management unit 107 has a function of acquiring a radiation imaging protocol from an external device and managing radiation imaging based on the information, and may be referred to as a second acquisition unit in the following. The radiation imaging protocol includes various conditions for radiation imaging and also includes information regarding the imaging site of the subject.

[0015] The control device 100 controls the conditions, timing, frame rate, etc. under which the optical imaging device 140 acquires an optical image. The optical image acquisition unit 103 acquires an optical image from the optical imaging device 140. This optical image is an optical image related to the subject (the examinee), and the optical image acquisition unit 103 may be referred to as a first acquisition unit in the following. The image display control unit 104 controls the content to be displayed using the display unit 150, which is a display device, by adding information to be displayed other than the optical image. Although details will be described later, the image display control unit 140 controls whether to output the optical image acquired by the optical image acquisition unit 103, which is the first acquisition unit, to the display unit 150, which is a display device, based on the determination result of the imaging preparation completion determination unit 105 described later. Therefore, the image display control unit 140 may be referred to as a display control unit in the following.

[0016] The imaging preparation completion determination unit 105 estimates the imaging preparation status based on the optical image acquired by the optical image acquisition unit 103 and determines whether the imaging preparation is complete. Specifically, using the optical image acquired by the optical image acquisition unit 103 and the inspection information acquired from the inspection information management unit 107, it analyzes the position and movement of the subject in the optical image, the presence or absence of reflections other than the subject, etc., and determines whether the imaging preparation is complete. Incidentally, in the following, the imaging preparation completion determination unit 105 may sometimes be simply referred to as the determination unit. Also, this "imaging preparation completion" does not refer to detailed alignment as described in Patent Document 1, for example, but rather refers to the completion of operations that do not require an optical image, such as the installation of the FPD, the guidance of the patient to the examination table, and the work originating from the examination room performed by the technician in the examination room. For the determination of the imaging preparation completion determination unit 105, an inference processing unit 106 using machine learning or the like may be used. And as described above, based on this determination result, the image display control unit 140 controls whether to output the optical image to the display unit 105 which is a display device.

[0017] Also, the determination management unit 109 stores the determination content and determination conditions and manages the determination content of the imaging preparation completion determination unit 105. Whether the determination content is implemented in each inspection is determined by the combination of the optical imaging device 140 and the imaging conditions. For example, it may have a determination table as shown in FIG. 2 and perform the determination for inspections that meet the conditions. Alternatively, a setting unit may be displayed on the display unit 150 so that the user can set which determination to perform in each inspection. The image storage unit 108 stores the images acquired by the radiation image acquisition unit 101 and the optical image acquisition unit 103.

[0018] The operation unit 160 performs an operation of selecting and setting the information of the inspection target from among a plurality of inspection information. For example, it displays the plurality of inspection information acquired by the inspection information management unit 107 in a list format on the display unit 150, accepts the user's operation input of selecting one piece of inspection information from the list, and sets the selected inspection information as the inspection target.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart from the start of the inspection according to the first embodiment to the display of the subject image. Here, an example in general imaging of the lower limbs will be described.

[0020] First, in step S301, the imaging preparation completion determination unit 105 determines whether the imaging preparation is completed using the optical image acquired by the optical image acquisition unit 103. The determination content will be described later. After the determination, if the determination result is that the imaging preparation is completed, the optical image is displayed on the display unit 150 by the image display control unit 104 in step S302. On the other hand, if the determination result is that the imaging preparation is not completed, the optical image is not displayed on the display unit 150. Note that it may be displayed immediately after the determination in S302, or it may be displayed after the passage of the time until the technician moves in front of the display unit 150.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart regarding the determination of the imaging preparation completion determination unit 105 in step S301.

[0022] First, in step S401, the determination content is determined using the determination table of FIG. 2 described above. Since it is a general imaging of the lower limbs, three conditional determinations are used. In steps S402 to S404, the determination is performed based on the determined determination content. In step S402, it is determined whether the subject to be analyzed for determination is included. For example, it is determined whether a human body is included in the optical image by image analysis such as image recognition, temperature detection, and image difference detection. If the human body cannot be detected, the determination is repeated. At this time, not only the human body of the patient (subject) who is the imaging target but also the human body other than the patient, such as a radiological technologist (operator) who performs imaging preparation, is included in the optical image, the determination may be repeated as an undetermined determination. In step S403, the moving object determination of the subject (subject) is performed. For example, the moving object determination is performed by image analysis such as the above-described human body detection and image difference detection. At this time, the moving object is defined as a large movement such as the movement of the human body, and the sensitivity is set so that fine alignment is not determined. If it is determined that there is a moving object, the determination is repeated. In step S404, the FPD is detected, and it is determined whether it is directly facing the tube head. For example, the FPD in the optical image is detected by image recognition analysis, and when the tube head (not shown) in the optical image or the optical imaging device 140 is attached to the tube head, the position and angle with the optical imaging device 140 are analyzed, and it is determined whether they are directly facing each other. If it is determined that they are not directly facing each other, the determination is repeated. The technology used for these determinations may be an image recognition method using machine learning by the inference processing unit 106. Further, a setting unit for adjustment may be provided in the display unit 150 so that the detection time interval and sensitivity can be adjusted due to imaging conditions such as the imaging site and the age of the subject. With the completion of the determinations in steps S402 to S404, the determination in step S301 is completed.

[0023] If it is determined that the preparation for radiography is completed by the above steps, an optical image is displayed on the display unit 150, and the technician (operator) refers to it and conducts the inspection. On the other hand, if it is determined that the preparation for radiography is not completed, the optical image is not displayed on the display unit 150, and it can be recognized that preparation for imaging is necessary (the preparation is incomplete). Note that after the corresponding inspection, the optical image is made non-displayed. When conducting the inspection again, this flow is repeated.

[0024] (Effect of the First Embodiment) As shown in the first embodiment above, by displaying the optical image only at the timing when the imaging preparation is completed and the inspection is possible, it is possible to consider the privacy of the subject and reduce the labor of the technician who is the operator, enabling an inspection.

[0025] (Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0026] The second embodiment is an embodiment that further considers privacy and does not display the optical image when the technician is not referring to the display unit 150 for imaging. The configuration and operation of the radiography system will be described.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a radiation imaging system according to the second embodiment. The human body detection device 500 is arranged at a location physically close to the display unit 150 and detects whether a person is standing in front of the display unit 150. Note that the detection is not limited to only in front of the display unit 150, and it may also detect whether there is a person around the display unit 150. This human body detection device 500 may be an optical camera or a human presence sensor, or may be a surveillance camera installed in the room or the like. Also, it is preferable to have an authentication function that targets only the operator (responsible engineer) who operates the radiation imaging. The human body detection unit 501 acquires information (for example, image data, authentication result, etc.) regarding the operator from the human body detection device 500 and manages the information. Therefore, the human body detection unit 501 may also be referred to as a third acquisition unit hereinafter. Note that the human body detection unit 501 may have an authentication function that targets only the operator (responsible engineer) who operates the radiation imaging. In this case, the human body detection unit 501, which is the third acquisition unit, acquires image data, identification information, etc. regarding the operator from the human body detection device 500, and performs operator authentication based on whether the information matches the information regarding the operator obtained in advance.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart from the start of the inspection according to the second embodiment until the subject image is displayed. Here, an example in general imaging of the lower limbs will be described.

[0029] After determining that the imaging preparation in step S301 is complete, in step S601, the human body detection unit 501 is used to detect the human body in front of the display unit 150. If detection fails, the detection is repeated. If detection is successful, the process proceeds to step S302, and the optical image is output to and displayed on the display unit 150 by the image display control unit 104. Regarding this detection, for example, assuming a location where people often pass in front of the display unit 150, a setting unit for adjusting the detection time, such as human body detection for 3 seconds or more, and sensitivity may be provided on the display unit 150.

[0030] (Description of FIG. 7) FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for re-determination and re-display after the optical image in step S302 in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit 150.

[0031] In step S701, the human body detection unit 501 is used to detect a human body in front of the display unit 150. While a human body is being detected, the optical image is kept displayed and the detection is repeated. When the detection becomes impossible, the process proceeds to step S702. The case where the detection becomes impossible is assumed to be, for example, when the position adjustment of the tube ball or the body posture adjustment of the subject becomes necessary again, or when the operator moves away from in front of the display unit 150. In step S702, the optical image displayed on the display unit 150 is made non-displayed. Thereafter, the determination of completion of imaging preparation is carried out again from step S301.

[0032] (Effect of the Second Embodiment) As described above, by displaying the optical image only at the necessary timing while the technician (operator) is always confirming the display of the optical image, a more privacy-conscious inspection becomes possible.

[0033] The disclosure of this specification includes the following radiographic control device and radiographic system.

[0034] (Item 1) A first acquisition unit that acquires an optical image related to a subject, A determination unit that determines the preparation status of the radiographic imaging of the subject based on the optical image acquired by the first acquisition unit, A display control unit that controls the output of the optical image to a display device, and The display control unit controls whether to output the optical image to the display device based on the determination result of the determination unit. A radiographic control device characterized by this.

[0035] (Item 2) When the determination result of the preparation status by the determination unit is that the preparation is complete, the display control unit outputs the optical image to the display device. The radiographic control device according to Item 1, characterized by this.

[0036] (Item 3) When the determination result of the preparation status by the determination unit is that the preparation is incomplete, the display control unit does not output the optical image to the display device. The radiographic control device according to Item 1 or 2, characterized by this.

[0037] (Item 4) The determination unit determines the preparation status based on the presence or absence of the subject in the optical image, and the radiation imaging control device according to any one of Items 1 to 3, characterized in that.

[0038] (Item 5) The determination unit determines the preparation status based on the presence or absence of movement of the subject in the optical image, and the radiation imaging control device according to any one of Items 1 to 4, characterized in that.

[0039] (Item 6) The radiation imaging control device further includes a second acquisition unit that acquires information on a radiation imaging protocol related to the subject, and the determination unit determines the preparation status based on the information on the radiation imaging protocol acquired by the second acquisition unit, and is characterized by any one of Items 1 to 5.

[0040] (Item 7) The information on the radiation imaging protocol is information on an imaging site, and the radiation imaging control device according to Item 6, characterized in that.

[0041] (Item 8) The determination unit includes a determination management unit that stores determination contents and determination conditions, and the radiation imaging control device according to any one of Items 1 to 7, characterized in that. "

[0042] (Item 9) The radiation imaging control device further includes a third acquisition unit that acquires information related to an operator who operates radiation imaging, and the determination unit determines the preparation status based on the information related to the operator acquired from the third acquisition unit, and is characterized by any one of Items 1 to 8.

[0043] (Item 10) The information related to the operator is information on whether the operator is around the display device, and the radiation imaging control device according to Item 9, characterized in that.

[0044] (Item 11) When the information about the operator indicates that the operator is not around the display device, the display control unit does not output the optical image to the display device. The radiation imaging control device according to Item 10, characterized in that.

[0045] (Item 12) A radiation imaging system comprising a radiation detection device that generates a radiation image by receiving radiation irradiation, and the radiation imaging control device according to any one of Items 1 to 11.

Explanation of Signs

[0046] 100 Control device 103 Optical image acquisition unit 104 Image display control unit 105 Shooting preparation completion determination unit 106 Inference processing unit 107 Inspection information management unit 109 Judgment management unit 130 Radiation detection device

Claims

1. A first acquisition unit that acquires an optical image related to a subject; A determination unit that determines the preparation status of the radiation imaging of the subject based on the optical image acquired by the first acquisition unit; A display control unit that controls the output of the optical image to a display device, and The display control unit controls whether to output the optical image to the display device based on the determination result of the determination unit, wherein the radiation imaging control device is characterized by this.

2. When the determination result of the preparation status by the determination unit is that the preparation is complete, the display control unit outputs the optical image to the display device, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

3. When the determination result of the preparation status by the determination unit is that the preparation is incomplete, the display control unit does not output the optical image to the display device, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

4. The determination unit determines the preparation status based on the presence or absence of the subject in the optical image, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

5. The determination unit determines the preparation status based on the presence or absence of movement of the subject in the optical image, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

6. The radiation imaging control device further includes a second acquisition unit that acquires information related to a radiation imaging protocol regarding the subject, and the determination unit determines the preparation status based on the information related to the radiation imaging protocol acquired by the second acquisition unit, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

7. The information related to the radiation imaging protocol is information related to an imaging site, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 6 is characterized by this.

8. The determination unit includes a determination management unit that stores determination contents and determination conditions, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

9. The radiation imaging control device further includes a third acquisition unit that acquires information related to an operator who operates the radiation imaging, and the determination unit determines the preparation status based on the information related to the operator acquired from the third acquisition unit, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

10. The information related to the operator is information indicating whether the operator is around the display device, wherein the radiation imaging control device according to claim 9 is characterized by this.

11. The radiation imaging control device according to claim 10, wherein when the information about the operator indicates that the operator is not around the display device, the display control unit does not output the optical image to the display device.

12. A radiation imaging system comprising: a radiation detection device that generates a radiation image by receiving radiation irradiation; and the radiation imaging control device according to claim 1.

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